Gophers drop to 12th, Duke moves back to top of men's hoops poll

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Duke is back at the top of the latest
Associated Press men's college basketball poll.

The Blue Devils were the top team for four weeks until a loss at North
Carolina State two Saturdays ago, but losses by Louisville and Indiana last
week allowed Duke to regain its lofty status, moving up two spots from No. 3.

Duke received 39 first-place votes and 1,578 points from a nationwide media
panel to outdistance Michigan, Kansas and Syracuse for the top spot. Michigan
picked up 11 No. 1 votes to move up three spots, while Kansas and Syracuse
share third. The Jayhawks garnered seven first-place votes, while the Orange,
after knocking off then-No. 1 Louisville on Saturday, earned eight top
tallies.

Louisville's reign at the top lasted just one week. The Cardinals dropped four
places to fifth after the 70-68 home loss against Syracuse.

Arizona, Indiana, Florida, Butler and Gonzaga round out this week's top 10.
The Hoosiers, who dropped a 64-59 decision at home against Wisconsin on
Tuesday and bounced back with a win at Northwestern on Sunday, dipped five
places from second. Florida moved up two places and Butler, coming off its
last-second thrilling win over Gonzaga, vaulted four places from 13th.

The second 10 consists of Kansas State, Minnesota, Michigan State, Ohio State,
New Mexico, Oregon, Creighton, North Carolina State, VCU and Wichita State.
Kansas State, Michigan State and Oregon each moved up five places, while
Creighton dropped five spots from 12th after its narrow loss at Wichita State
on Saturday.

Cincinnati, Missouri, Ole Miss, Notre Dame and Miami-Florida are the last five
teams ranked this week. Missouri dropped five places from 17th after a
humbling 83-52 setback at Florida.

Wichita State, Cincinnati, Ole Miss and Miami-Florida are this week's
newcomers. Wichita State is back in the poll for a second time after dropping
out last week, while Cincinnati is also back after a one-week hiatus. The
Bearcats had been ranked all season and were as high as No. 8 after starting
12-0. Ole Miss and Miami are ranked for the first time this season.

San Diego State, Illinois, UCLA and Marquette all fell out of the poll. San
Diego State had been ranked all season and was 15th last week, but lost to
UNLV and Wyoming. Illinois joined the rankings in late November and reached as
high as 10th after a 12-0 start, but the Illini are just 1-4 in Big Ten play.
UCLA dropped out from No. 24 after a loss to Oregon last week, while
Marquette's stay at No. 25 lasted just one week after an overtime loss to
Cincinnati.

This week's limited schedule of ranked matchups includes Tuesday's Big 12
tussle between Kansas and Kansas State in Manhattan, as well as Duke's visit
to Miami on Wednesday. On Sunday, Indiana hosts Michigan State.